ABSTRACT
Petre Tutea tries to establish whether there can be a Platonic Idea of theatre and, if so, whether it is reflected in what he calls 'pure' or 'archetypal theatre'. Tutea's 'heroic Christian apologia in the face of physical and mental brutality' became well known in Romanian political prisons. Tutea sees public exposition of truth as intrinsic to both Socratic and Christian morality. Christian societies have often condemned theatre for promoting fiction, deception, and artificiality. Theatre as seminar can thus integrate the 'types' of the saint, priest, statesman, scientist, artist, cultivated individual, or psychotic tyrant. Tutea's sense of humour is reflected in his apologia for satire and comedy. He was aware of the enormous impact which the refreshing spirit of comedy can have in a totalitarian regime, when the satirical playwright combines fiction with reality because he knows that everyday life often goes far beyond the fabrications of the imagination.
